How Extended Reality is Transforming Education

How does Extended Reality fit into education?

Extended Reality (XR), which includes Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), has the power to transform education. Immersive digital experiences provide unique learning environments and will change the way students of all ages engage with new information.

Educational Institutions across Canada ranging from elementary to post-secondary are adopting XR technology into their daily routines. Many Universities and Colleges are even offering entire courses taught using Virtual Reality. Using XR, educators are able to curate their content and engage with students in a completely revolutionary way, and students are able to receive enriching lessons that produce higher information retention rates than ever before.

Some notable educational institutions that have begun to harness the power of digital learning include;

• Stanford University – “Virtual People” course
• Northern Alberta Institute for Technology (NAIT) – XR Development courses
• Conestoga College – Virtual Reality Production courses
• Sheridan College – Virtual Reality and VR production courses
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Centre for Advanced Virtuality 
• Harvard University – Graduate School of Design AR/VR courses

Extended Reality makes educational content easily digestible and engaging to students of all ages, especially those who thrive within hands-on and/or visual learning methods. The benefits of XR in the classroom are endless, from allowing young minds to explore future career paths without any real-life complications or dangers to providing completely customized educational content that is easily adjustable by the learning coordinator.

What programs could benefit from XR?

Educational programs for any age could benefit from XR incorporation. See how XR fits into each range below.

Elementary and Secondary School

• VR and AR enables students to explore new environments all over the world from the comfort of the classroom, saving the costs and organizational hassles of field trips.
• Students are able to explore career options by engaging in environments that may be dangerous or impossible to experience in real life at their age, including health care, heavy machinery, mechanics, and engineering.
• Students who learn most successfully through hands-on experiences can be fully engaged through VR experiences, enhancing course effectiveness and information retention.

Post-Secondary and Adult Learning

• XR enables mature students to experience real-life situations and exercise problem-solving skills that pertain to their career field, all while in a safe, customized environment and under the watchful eye of their educators.
• Students are able to collaborate and engage with their fellow classmates in an entirely new way, as well as engage with students worldwide to share knowledge and enhance learning experiences.
• Students in fields that require precision and meticulous practice to avoid dangerous consequences including healthcare, mechanics, engineering, architecture, heavy machinery, and more, are able to engage in real scenarios and complete hours of practice before heading into their careers.
• Students leave their educational experience equipped with a database of knowledge curated entirely through virtual scenarios, rendering them prepared for real-world problems.

What do students and teachers have to say about XR in the classroom?

In a recent survey sent out to students and teachers within pre and post-secondary institutions across the globe, we asked some simple questions about their experiences with XR and the impact it had on their educational experience.

72% of students and 84% of teachers had previously had the chance to use Extended Reality (XR) within the classroom

Out of those who had not had the chance to use XR 76% of students and 91% of teachers wish they had been given the opportunity. When asked how they believed XR would have benefited their learning experiences if given the chance, students answered that they;

• Would have been able to understand their educators better and learn faster
• Would have been offered a better learning experience with a more hands-on feel
• Would have been more engaged and taken their studies more seriously
• Would have felt more motivated to engage and focus as they believe XR would have created an immersive, realistic, and vivid learning experience 

97% of students and 93% of teachers agreed that their XR experience enhanced engagement with course content. 

96% of students felt they were able to retain a notably higher amount of information and felt they got more from their course due to their XR experience.

96% of students felt more prepared for real-life scenarios after their XR experience.

• 88% of teachers felt their students seemed more prepared for real-life scenarios following their XR experience

97% of students and 92% of teachers felt they/their students had been able to actively use the skills they had learned and practiced in their XR experience later in their coursework or in the field after graduation.

99% of students and 97% of teachers agreed that every student should have the chance to experience XR in their studies.

Below are some additional benefits that students and educators had to share about their XR experiences.

• “XR enhanced my sensory experience and helped deepen my understanding of course content”
• “Realistic practice through XR was extremely helpful for practical application“
• “I felt more convinced that I chose the right field and was able to enjoy my learning experience more”
• “XR created a safe learning space to improve my understanding and retention of information, therefore improving my quality of learning“
• “Using XR in the classroom can extend reality to enable teachers to provide students with pre-instructional experience. It allows students to be transported and immerses them in a world that inspires them to explore it“
• “I was able to provide an intelligent learning environment and improved my students’ comprehension and memory“
• “XR makes my classroom atmosphere more interesting and makes content easier to understand, all while making teaching more convenient“
• “XR cultivates positive attitudes in students and enhances their interest in learning“

XR is Possible for Anyone!

Want to learn more about how Extended Reality is transforming the classroom? Contact a member of our team today and get started with a free trial of IQ3 Connect’s no-code XR platform, capable of supporting any content from your next lesson plan to your final project.